The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad eBook

Jimmy had laughed at Peter Rabbit for being so anxious
for Summer to arrive, but he was just as glad as Peter
that she had come, although he wouldn’t have
said so for the world. His sharp little eyes twinkled
as he ambled along, and there wasn’t much that
they missed. As he walked he talked, quite to
himself of course, because there was nobody near to
hear, and this is what he was saying:

“Beetle, beetle, smooth and smug,
You are nothing but a bug.
Bugs were made for Skunks to eat,
So come out from your retreat.

“Hello! There’s a nice big piece
of bark over there that looks as if it ought to have
a dozen fat beetles under it. It’s great
fun to pull over pieces of bark and see fat beetles
run all ways at once. I’ll just have to
see what is under that piece.”

Jimmy tiptoed softly over to the big piece of bark,
and then as he made ready to turn it over, he began
again that foolish little verse.

“Beetle, beetle, smooth and smug,
You are nothing but a bug.”

As he said the last word, he suddenly pulled the piece
of bark over.

“Who’s a bug?” asked a funny voice,
and it sounded rather cross. Jimmy Skunk nearly
tumbled over backward in surprise, and for a minute
he couldn’t find his tongue. There, instead
of the fat beetles he had been so sure of, sat Old
Mr. Toad, and he didn’t look at all pleased.

“Who’s a bug?” he repeated.

Instead of answering, Jimmy Skunk began to laugh.
“Who’s a bug?” demanded Old Mr.
Toad, more crossly than before.

“There isn’t any bug, Mr. Toad, and I
beg your pardon,” replied Jimmy, remembering
his politeness. “I just thought there was.
You see, I didn’t know you were under that piece
of bark. I hope you will excuse me, Mr. Toad.
Have you seen any fat beetles this morning?”

“No,” said Old Mr. Toad grumpily, and
yawned and rubbed his eyes.

“Why,” exclaimed Jimmy Skunk, “I
believe you have just waked up!”

“What if I have?” demanded Old Mr. Toad.

“Oh, nothing, nothing at all, Mr. Toad,”
replied Jimmy Skunk, “only you are the second
one I’ve met this morning who had just waked
up.”

XVII

OLD MR. TOAD’S MISTAKE

If is a very little word to look at, but the biggest
word you have ever seen doesn’t begin to have
so much meaning as little “if.” If
Jimmy Skunk hadn’t ambled down the Crooked Little
Path just when he did; if he hadn’t been
looking for fat beetles; if he hadn’t
seen that big piece of bark at one side and decided
to pull it over; if it hadn’t been for
all these “ifs,” why Old Mr. Toad wouldn’t
have made the mistake he did, and you wouldn’t
have had this story. But Jimmy Skunk did
amble down the Crooked Little Path, he did
look for beetles, and he did pull over that
big piece of bark. And when he had pulled it
over, he found Old Mr. Toad there.